Private Port in Bera!

PABNA’S Bera Municipality Mayor has established a small port on the Hurasagor River at Brishalikha bypassing the Bangladesh Inland Water Transport Authority (BIWTA). Abdul Baten, also President of Bera Awami League, constructed a one-storey building, bearing a signboard, reading Brishalikha Non-Government Raj Ghat to manage the loading and unloading of goods from vessels and lorries. The State-run Baghabari River Port, only about 10km away, is being deprived of revenue due to the diversion of river traffic to the unregulated port. The malfeasance of the ruling party men in every nook and corner is wide enough to say “parallel states are active within the state.”
BIWTA officials said they repeatedly sent letters in the last few years requesting the authorities concerned to take action regarding the matter. But nothing has changed. At an authorised river port, labourers, river routes, and vessels are managed by the BIWTA. The truckers and vessel owners also have to pay a fee to load and unload goods. Companies have to pay Tk 34.5 for each ton of unloaded goods at Baghabari Port. The charge is a big revenue source for the BIWTA. But due to poor activities at the Baghabari Port, the government is facing losses.
In absence of proper service in the State-run ghat, the Mayor offered low cost but high end service in his personal jetty diverting many transporters from using the BIWTA ghat. The alternative ghat has become more vibrant than the BIWTA ghat. The incident emits signals that the ruling party men or powerful avoid the State. According to the Local Government Act, the revenue earned from the ghat must go to the Local Government Authorities. Brishalikha ghat is located in the Bera Municipality area, so the municipality authorities may collect the revenue.
It is the responsibility of the government to clarify the misunderstanding with the local government institutions. If the Mayor personally or the municipality makes profit from the ghat operations, the BIWTA should reach an understanding with them.